Isotope-doped carbon nanotube and method and apparatus for forming the same

ABSTRACT

An isotope-doped carbon nanotube ( 40 ) includes a plurality of first carbon nanotube segments ( 402 ) having carbon-12 isotopes and a plurality of second carbon nanotube segments ( 404 ) having carbon-13 isotopes. The first and second carbon nanotube segments are alternately arranged along a longitudinal direction of the carbon nanotube. Three preferred methods employ different isotope sources to form isotope-doped carbon nanotubes. In a chemical vapor deposition method, different isotope source gases are alternately introduced. In an arc discharge method, a power source is alternately switched between different isotope anodes. In a laser ablation method, a laser is alternately focused on different isotope targets. In addition, an apparatus for implementing the preferred methods is provided.

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/402,701, filed on Mar. 28, 2003, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to nano-materials and methods and apparatuses for forming nano-materials and, more particularly, to isotope-doped carbon nanotubes and a method and an apparatus for forming the same.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Carbon nanotubes were discovered by S. Ijima (Nature, vol. 354, pp. 56-58, 1991) and synthesized by T. W. Ebbesen and P. M. Ajayan (Nature, vol. 358, pp. 220-222, 1992). Theoretical studies showed that carbon nanotubes exhibit either metallic or semiconductive behavior depending on the radii and helicity of the tubules. Carbon nanotubes have interesting and potentially useful electrical and mechanical properties, and they offer potential for use in electronic devices. Carbon nanotubes also feature high aspect ratios (>1000) and atomically sharp tips, which make them ideal candidates for electron field emitters, white light sources, lithium secondary batteries, hydrogen storage cells, transistors, and cathode ray tubes (CRTs).

Carbon nanotubes are currently being produced by a variety of different techniques, such as arc discharge (See S. Iijima et al, Nature, Helical Microtubules of Graphitic Carbon, vol. 354, pp. 56-58, 7 Nov. 1991), laser ablation (See T. W. Ebbesen and P. M. Ajayan, Large-scale Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes, Nature, vol. 358, pp. 220-222, 16 Jul. 1992), and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) (See W. Z. Li et al., Large-scale Synthesis of Aligned Carbon Nanotubes, Science, vol. 274, pp. 1701-1703, Dec. 6, 1996). All of the above-mentioned disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.

Isotope labeling is a powerful tool in the study of nano-material growth mechanisms and in nano-sized isotope junction synthesis. Methods of isotope labeling use reactants containing different isotopes of a special element (usually light elements such as carbon, boron, nitrogen and oxygen), which are fed in designated concentrations (pure or mixed) and sequences into nano-material synthesis process to provide in-situ isotope labeling of nano-materials.

None of the three above-described techniques for producing carbon nanotubes, namely arc discharge, laser ablation, and CVD, provides isotope-doped carbon nanotubes or a method for making isotope-doped carbon nanotubes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide isotope-doped carbon nanotubes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide various methods for forming isotope-doped carbon nanotubes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide at least one apparatus for forming isotope-doped carbon nanotubes.

In order to achieve the first above-mentioned object, an isotope-doped carbon nanotube in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of first carbon nanotube segments having carbon-12 isotopes and a plurality of second carbon nanotube segments having carbon-13 isotopes. The first and second carbon nanotube segments are alternately arranged along a longitudinal direction of the carbon nanotube.

In order to achieve the second above-mentioned object, a first preferred method of the present invention for forming isotope-doped carbon nanotubes incorporates the following steps: a) providing a first and a second carbon source gas respectively comprising carbon-12 and carbon-13 isotopes; b) putting a substrate having a catalyst film deposited thereon into a reaction chamber; c) creating a vacuum in the reaction chamber, introducing a protecting gas at a predetermined pressure therein, and heating the reaction chamber up to a predetermined temperature; d) introducing the carbon-12 source gas into the reaction chamber, whereby first carbon nanotube segments are formed on the catalyst film; e) after a given time, shutting off the flow of carbon-12 source gas and introducing the carbon-13 source gas into the reaction chamber, whereby second carbon nanotube segments are formed on the first carbon nanotube segments; and f) after an additional given time, shutting off the flow of carbon-13 source gas and cooling the reaction chamber down to room temperature, whereby isotope-doped carbon nanotubes are formed.

In order to achieve the second above-mentioned object, a second preferred method of the present invention for forming isotope-doped carbon nanotubes includes the following steps: a) providing first and second carbon rods respectively comprising carbon-12 and carbon-13 isotopes; b) connecting the first and second carbon rods, respectively, through a multi-position switch to a positive terminal of an electric arc discharge supply; c) connecting a pure graphite rod to a negative terminal of the electric arc discharge supply; d) placing the first and second carbon rods adjacent the pure graphite rod to create an arc gap; e) putting all the rods into an arc discharge reaction chamber, creating a vacuum in the reaction chamber, and introducing a protecting gas at a predetermined pressure therein; f) applying a discharge current between the first carbon rod and the graphite rod, whereby first carbon nanotube segments are formed on the graphite rod; g) after a given time, applying a discharge current between the second carbon rod and the graphite rod, whereby second carbon nanotube segments are formed on the first carbon nanotube segments; and h) after a further given time, switching off the electric arc discharge supply, whereby isotope-doped carbon nanotubes are formed.

In order to achieve the second above-mentioned object, a third preferred method of the present invention for forming isotope-doped carbon nanotubes includes the following steps: a) providing first and second carbon targets respectively comprising carbon-12 and carbon-13 isotopes; b) providing a carbon nanotube accumulator; c) putting the first and second carbon targets and the accumulator into a laser ablation reaction chamber, with the accumulator placed behind the first and second carbon targets; d) creating a vacuum in the reaction chamber and introducing a protecting gas at a predetermined pressure therein; e) heating a region in the vicinity of the first and second carbon targets up to a predetermined temperature; f) focusing a laser beam on the first carbon target, whereby first carbon nanotube segments are formed on the accumulator; g) after a given time, focusing the laser beam on the second carbon target, whereby second carbon nanotube segments are formed on the first carbon nanotube segments; and h) after another given time, switching off the laser beam, whereby isotope-doped carbon nanotubes are formed.

In order to achieve the third above-mentioned object, an apparatus of the present invention for forming isotope-doped carbon nanotubes includes a reaction chamber with at least one gas supply conduit and at least one gas exhaust conduit, at least one energy supply device, first and second carbon sources respectively comprising first and second carbon isotopes, a carbon nanotube forming medium, and a switching device. The switching device can selectively switch between the first carbon source and the second carbon source in order to make the first carbon source and the second carbon source alternately deposit on the carbon nanotube forming medium.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of an isotope-doped carbon nanotube of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus used to form isotope-doped carbon nanotubes in accordance with a first preferred method of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus used to form isotope-doped carbon nanotubes in accordance with a second preferred method of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus used to form isotope-doped carbon nanotubes in accordance with a third preferred method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is further described below and by reference to the figures.

Referring to FIG. 1, an isotope-doped carbon nanotube 40 in accordance with the present invention incorporates a plurality of first carbon nanotube segments 402 having carbon-12 isotopes and a plurality of second carbon nanotube segments 404 having carbon-13 isotopes. The first and second carbon nanotube segments 402, 404 are alternately arranged along a longitudinal direction of the carbon nanotube 40. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the carbon nanotube 40 has a length of 10˜1000 μm and a diameter of 0.5˜50 nm.

A first preferred method of the present invention for forming a plurality of the carbon nanotubes 40 involves chemical vapor deposition. Referring to FIG. 2, the chemical vapor deposition method involves the following steps. By performing the following steps, isotope-doped carbon nanotubes each having only one first carbon nanotube segment 402 and only one second carbon nanotube segment 404 can be formed:

-   -   (1) providing two different ethylene gases respectively         comprising carbon-12 isotopes and carbon-13 isotopes;     -   (2) putting a substrate 132 into a reaction chamber 110, the         substrate 132 having an iron thin film 134 deposited thereon,         the iron thin film 134 being 5 nm thick and functioning as a         catalyst;     -   (3) creating a vacuum in the reaction chamber 110 via a gas         exhaust conduit 116, introducing argon gas with a pressure of         one (1) atmosphere into the reaction chamber 110 through a gas         supply conduit 118, and heating the reaction chamber 110 up to         650˜750° C., using a reaction furnace 106 disposed around the         reaction chamber 110;     -   (4) opening a valve 112 and introducing ethylene gas having         carbon-12 isotopes into the reaction chamber 110 through a gas         supply pipe 102 at a flow rate of 120 sccm (standard cubic         centimeters per minute), leaving first carbon nanotube segments         (not shown) having carbon-12 isotopes formed on the iron thin         film 134;     -   (5) after a given time when the first carbon nanotube segments         having carbon-12 isotopes have reached a first desired length,         closing the valve 112 and opening a valve 114 and introducing         ethylene gas having carbon-13 isotopes into the reaction chamber         110 through a gas supply pipe 104 at a flow rate of 120 sccm,         leaving second carbon nanotube segments (not shown) having         carbon-13 isotopes being formed on the first carbon nanotube         segments;     -   (6) after a given time when the second carbon nanotube segments         having carbon-13 isotopes have reached a second desired length,         closing the valve 114 to stop the flow of ethylene gas having         carbon-13 isotopes and cooling the reaction chamber 110 down to         room temperature, leaving isotope-doped carbon nanotubes formed         on the substrate 132.

It is to be understood that after performing step (5), step (4) may be repeated to form carbon nanotubes, each having two of the first carbon nanotube segments and one second carbon nanotube segment. Similarly, steps (4) and (5) may respectively be repeated a desired number of times to form the carbon nanotubes 40, each having the first and second carbon nanotube segments 402, 404 alternately arranged therein.

In alternative embodiments of the first preferred method, other metals such as cobalt, nickel, or the like can be used as the catalyst instead of iron. Other carbon hydrogen compounds such as methane, ethyne, or propadiene can be used as the carbon source gas instead of ethylene. Other gases such as helium, nitrogen, or hydrogen can be used as the protecting gas instead of argon.

A second preferred method of the present invention for forming a plurality of the isotope-doped carbon nanotubes 40 involves arc discharge. Referring to FIG. 3, the arc discharge method incorporates the following steps. By performing the following steps, isotope-doped carbon nanotubes each having only one first carbon nanotube segment 402 and only one second carbon nanotube segment 404 can be formed:

-   -   (1) a) providing a first carbon rod 202 comprising carbon-12         isotopes and having a diameter of 8˜12 mm, the first carbon rod         202 being formed by pressing a composite powder and high purity         graphite particles at a pressure of 3300˜3800 atmospheres, each         particle having a diameter of 5 μm and being carbon-12 isotope         graphite, the composite powder functioning as a catalyst and         comprising nickel powder (0˜13% by weight) and/or ytterbia         powder (0˜48% by weight), b) providing a second carbon rod 204         comprising carbon-13 isotopes and having a diameter of 8˜12 mm,         the second carbon rod 204 being formed in the same way with the         same composite powder as the first carbon rod 202 is formed but         using high purity graphite particles of carbon-13 isotopes, c)         bonding the first and second carbon rods 202, 204 with an         adhesive insulator 203 therebetween, and d) respectively         connecting the first and second carbon rods 202, 204 to two         load-side contacts of a switch 212, a supply-side contact of the         switch 212 being connected to a positive terminal 214 of an         electric arc discharge supply, the first and second carbon rods         202, 204 functioning, in turn, as an anode;     -   (2) connecting a pure graphite rod 208 to a negative terminal         215 of the electric arc discharge supply, the pure graphite rod         208 functioning as a cathode 208;     -   (3) placing the anodes 202, 204 adjacent the cathode 208 to         create an arc gap of 1.5˜2 mm, putting the anodes 202, 204 and         cathode 208 into an arc discharge reaction chamber 210, creating         a vacuum in the reaction chamber 210 via a gas exhaust conduit         216, and introducing helium gas with a pressure of 100˜500 Torr         into the reaction chamber 210 through a gas supply conduit 218;     -   (4) switching the switch 212 to connect the first carbon rod 202         with the positive terminal 214, and applying a discharge voltage         of 20˜40V and a discharge current of 90˜110 A between the anode         202 and the cathode 208, leaving first carbon nanotube segments         (not shown) having carbon-12 isotopes formed on the cathode 208;     -   (5) after a given time, when the first carbon nanotube segments         having carbon-12 isotopes have reached a first desired length,         switching the switch 212 to disconnect the first carbon rod 202         while at the same time connecting the second carbon rod 204, and         applying a discharge voltage of 20˜40V and a discharge current         of 90˜110 A between the anode 204 and the cathode 208, leaving         second carbon nanotube segments (not shown) having carbon-13         isotopes formed on said first carbon nanotube segments; and     -   (6) after a further given time, when the second carbon nanotube         segments having carbon-13 isotopes have reached a second desired         length, switching off the electric arc discharge supply, leaving         isotope-doped carbon nanotubes formed on the cathode 208.

It is to be understood that after performing step (5), step (4) may be repeated to form carbon nanotubes each having two of the first carbon nanotube segments and one second carbon nanotube segment. Similarly, steps (4) and (5) may respectively be repeated a desired number of times to form the carbon nanotubes 40, each having the first and second carbon nanotube segments 402, 404 alternately arranged therein.

In alternative embodiments of the second preferred method, other suitable materials such as pure cobalt powder, pure nickel powder or the like can be used as the catalyst and pressed with the graphite particles. Other gases such as argon, nitrogen, or hydrogen can be used as the protecting gas, instead of helium. Furthermore, a cooling pipe can be attached around the arc discharge reaction chamber 210 to avoid excessive build-up of heat therein.

A third preferred method of the present invention for forming a plurality of the isotope-doped carbon nanotubes 40 involves laser ablation. Referring to FIG. 4, the laser ablation method uses the following steps. By performing the following steps, isotope-doped carbon nanotubes each having only one first carbon nanotube segment 402 and only one second carbon nanotube segment 404 can be formed:

-   -   (1) providing a first carbon target 302 comprising carbon-12         isotopes, the first carbon target 302 being formed by pressing a         composite powder together with a high purity graphite powder of         carbon-12 isotopes, the composite powder functioning as a         catalyst and comprising cobalt powder (2.8% by weight) and         nickel powder (2.8% by weight), and providing a second carbon         target 304 comprising carbon-13 isotopes, the second carbon         target 304 being formed in the same way with the same composite         powder as the first carbon target 302 is formed but using high         purity graphite powder of carbon-13 isotopes;     -   (2) providing a carbon nanotube accumulator 308;     -   (3) putting the first and second targets 302, 304 and the         accumulator 308 into a laser ablation reaction chamber 310, with         the accumulator 308 being placed behind the first and second         targets 302, 304;     -   (4) creating a vacuum in the reaction chamber 310 via a gas         exhaust conduit 316, and introducing argon gas with a pressure         of 50˜760 Torr into the reaction chamber 310 through a gas         supply conduit 318;     -   (5) heating a region in the vicinity of the first and second         targets 302, 304 up to 1000˜1200° C. using a heater 306;     -   (6) focusing a pulsing laser beam 314 of a laser (not shown) on         the first target 302 using a lens 312 located in front of the         first and second targets 302, 304, the pulsing laser beam 314         having a wavelength of 532 nm and a single pulsing energy of 250         mJ, a diameter of a spot of irradiation on the first target 302         being 5 mm, leaving first carbon nanotube segments (not shown)         having carbon-12 isotopes formed on the accumulator 308;     -   (7) after a given time, when the first carbon nanotube segments         having carbon-12 isotopes have reached a first length, switching         the lens 312 to focus the laser beam 314 on the second target         304, leaving second carbon nanotube segments (not shown) having         carbon-13 isotopes formed on the first carbon nanotube segments;         and     -   (8) after another given time, when the second carbon nanotube         segments having carbon-13 isotopes have reached a second length,         switching off the pulsing laser beam 314, leaving isotope-doped         carbon nanotubes formed on the accumulator 308.

It is to be understood that after performing step (7), step (6) may be repeated to form carbon nanotubes, each having two of the first carbon nanotube segments and one second carbon nanotube segment. Similarly, steps (6) and (7) may respectively be repeated a desired number of times to form the carbon nanotubes 40, each having the first and second carbon nanotube segments 402, 404 alternately arranged therein.

In alternative embodiments of the third preferred method, other suitable materials such as pure cobalt powder, pure nickel powder, or the like can be used as the catalyst and pressed with the graphite powder. Other gases such as helium, nitrogen or hydrogen can be used as the protecting gas, instead of argon. In addition, the laser beam may be focused on the respective first and second targets 302, 304 by mounting the first and second targets 302, 304 on a rotatable member and rotating the rotatable member to exchange locations of the first and second targets 302, 304.

The preferred methods of the present invention can form multiple isotope-doped carbon nanotubes 40, each comprising the first and second carbon nanotube segments 402, 404 alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction of the carbon nanotube 40. Accordingly, the growth pattern of different carbon isotopes can be recorded in situ by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Further, the growth mechanisms of carbon nanotubes can be investigated in this way. Moreover, the preferred methods can be employed to form one-dimensional nano-materials containing isotopes other than those of pure carbon; for example, isotopes of light element compositions, including boron, nitrogen or oxygen.

It will be understood that the particular methods of the present invention are shown and described by way of illustration only and not as limiting the invention. The principles and features of the present invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. 

1. A method of forming isotope-doped nanotubes of a light element with different isotopes as labeling for indication of relative growth time of said nanotubes, comprising steps of: providing a first source with first isotopes of said light element; providing a second source with second isotopes of said light element; providing a target close to said first source and said second source; providing a circumstance in which the target is available for receiving both said first isotopes and said second isotopes; and providing an activating device to alternatively introduce the first and second isotopes to said target; wherein formed isotope-doped nanotubes extend along a longitudinal direction, and the first and the second isotopes are arranged with each other in a chronicle pattern so as to allow measurement of a growth rate of said formed nanotubes along said longitudinal direction.
 2. A method for forming isotope-doped carbon nanotubes, the method comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first carbon source gas and a second carbon source gas respectively comprising first and second carbon isotopes; (2) putting a substrate having a catalyst film deposited thereon into a reaction chamber; (3) creating a vacuum in the reaction chamber, introducing a protecting gas at a predetermined pressure therein, and heating the reaction chamber up to a predetermined temperature; (4) introducing the first carbon source gas into the reaction chamber, first carbon nanotube segments thereby being formed on the catalyst film; (5) after a given time when the first carbon nanotube segments having the first isotope have reached a first desired length, halting introduction of the first carbon source gas and introducing the second carbon source gas into the reaction chamber, second carbon nanotube segments thereby being formed on the first carbon nanotube segments; and (6) after a given time when the second carbon nanotube segments having the second isotope have reached a second desired length, cooling the reaction chamber down to room temperature, thereby leaving the isotope-doped carbon nanotubes are formed.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the catalyst film comprises iron, cobalt or nickel film.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second carbon source gases comprise methane, ethylene, ethyne, or propadiene.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the protecting gas comprises helium, argon, nitrogen, or hydrogen.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined pressure is one atmosphere, and the predetermined temperature is in the approximate range from 650 to 750 degrees Centigrade.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein steps (4) and (5) may respectively be repeated a desired number of times to form the carbon nanotubes, each having the first and second carbon nanotube segments alternately arranged therein.
 8. A method for forming isotope-doped carbon nanotubes, the method comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first carbon source and a second carbon source respectively comprising first and second carbon isotopes and respectively connecting the first and second carbon sources to a positive terminal of an electricity supply; (2) connecting a pure graphite rod to a negative terminal of the electricity supply; (3) placing the first and second carbon sources adjacent the pure graphite rod to create an arc gap, putting the first and second carbon sources and the graphite rod into an arc discharge reaction chamber, creating a vacuum in the reaction chamber, and introducing a protecting gas at a predetermined pressure therein; (4) applying a discharge current between the first carbon source and the pure graphite rod, first carbon nanotube segments thereby being formed on the graphite rod; (5) after a given time, when the first carbon nanotube segments having the first isotope have reached a first desired length, stopping the discharge current from the first carbon source to the pure graphite rod and applying a discharge current between the second carbon source and the graphite rod, second carbon nanotube segments thereby being formed on the first carbon nanotube segments; and (6) after a further given time, when the second carbon nanotube segments having the second isotope have reached a second desired length, switching off the electricity supply, thereby leaving the isotope-doped carbon nanotubes.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second carbon sources are first and second carbon rods formed by pressing a catalyst powder and high purity graphite particles.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the catalyst powder comprises nickel powder, ytterbia powder, a composite of nickel powder and ytterbia powder, or cobalt powder.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second carbon rods each have a diameter in the range from 8 to 12 millimeters and are formed at a pressure about in the range from 3300 to 3800 atmospheres.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second carbon rods are bonded together with an adhesive insulator.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the protecting gas comprises helium, argon, nitrogen, or hydrogen.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the arc gap is about in the range from 1.5 to 2 millimeters.
 15. The method of claim 8, wherein the discharge current is in the approximate range from 90 to 110 amps.
 16. The method of claim 8, wherein steps (4) and (5) may respectively be repeated a desired number of times to form the carbon nanotubes each having the first and second carbon nanotube segments alternately arranged therein. 